Some Thoughts on Failure

As humans, we have a deeper relationship with failure than we initially realize. From the time we are children, we are taught to blindly run from failure, doing everything we can to strive after perfection. Soon we learn that this is extremely difficult and that it boarders on impossible, yet we keep going. We expect perfection in school, relationships, sports, and music. We are disappointed when we come in contact with failure on someone else's part, and we're extremely hard on ourselves when we personally fail. Through all this, there's one thing we forget: trials and failures are two of our greatest teachers. 

As an Education students, failure is something we have to treat very strategically. A great amount of effort goes into reversing students' predispositions and fear towards failure. If students are afraid of failure in the classroom, they will learn significantly less than if they put their pride aside take risks. This is exactly how we should treat life. We will fail, it's inevitable, but it's how we react to failure that determines what comes out of that situation. 

The ability to rise above the the bubbling black failure of this world also requires a connection to something that never fails. Many people turn to romantic love for this, but this is a dangerous misstep, and even the most devoted partner is going to make mistakes. Unfailing, unwavering, and everlasting love can only be found from our Creator, the one divine example of perfection in a world full of failures. His plans, promises, and Word never fails. He is completely perfect, requiring nothing, and yet He wants us more than anything. That is the definition of perfect love. Let's look at some examples of His perfection: 

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Isaiah 51:6
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail

Isaiah 58:11

The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land 
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden, 
    like a spring whose waters never fail.

Lamentations 3:22
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

Summer!

Within the last two days, I have gotten ridiculously excited for summer, which arrives in less than a week.
I am most excited about:

-France! And all the things that are thus included.
-Seeing my family
-Seeing my pets
-Going to my church
-Going to Chicago
-Sleeping
-Being reunited with all my books
-Being in my room
-The stars at night
-Jumping on the trampoline with my sisters
-Taking walks at night
-Family parties
-Watching TV
-Reading whatever I want
-Scary movies
-Home cooked food
-Grilling
-Grandparents
-Being a senior (I CAN'T BELIEVE IT)
-Concerts
-Lake Michigan
-Family vacations
-Camping
-Fishing
-My back porch
-Walks in the power lines
-Thrifting

It's going to be an incredibly full and wonderful summer!

Lessons

Wow! I haven't posted one blog post this whole semester! It's been a whirlwind of 20 credits and putting the most effort into my grades as I ever have. However, there is one big lesson that sticks out from this semester and year that I'd love to share with you.

The most prominent lessons I've learned this year comes from John 15. Verse 1-5 say,

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." 

Now, obviously, there are many lessons and talking points that can be extracted from this passage. The bolded sections are what God has emphasized in my life this year. 

Firstly, He prunes so that we can be more fruitful. Slowly and painfully, He cuts away parts of us that don't look like him. If you ask any of the girls on my floor last year, they will tell you that I was very far from being a kind person this time last year. It has been quite a journey to trust God to take away my pride, bitterness, and hatred towards people. Over time He has replaced that with His unfailing love. It's the most shocking and incredible feeling when you instantly feel love for people that you either don't even know or really dislike. This can only be from God. 

Secondly, we must remain in Him. He is in us and calls us to remain in Him. It's the place we belong and it's the only place of restoration and peace. The world wears on us more than we initially realize, and remaining in Him is the only solution. When life becomes really hard, there are two choices. Try to fix it and wallow in human efforts, or remain in Him. When my grandma passed away in November, remaining in Him was literally the only reason I got through. You eventually get to a point where talking about it with people and trying to figure out how to feel better just don't work. I learned that worship is choice and it is the perfect reaction for every situation. I started off singing words that seemed so far away from where I was, but when the choice is made to turn towards Him, healing begins.

Lastly, apart from Him we can do nothing. Everything we have is because He allowed is to have it. Everything we do is made possible by Him. Thankfulness is the only response to this.